Antifungal Drug Discovery: New theories and new therapies

141.7K

views

72

authors

15

articles

Antifungal Drug Discovery: New theories and new therapies

141.7K

views

72

authors

15

articles

Editorial

23 May 2016

Editorial: Antifungal Drug Discovery: New Theories and New Therapies

Chaminda J. Seneviratne

and

Edvaldo A. R. Rosa

11,134 views

20 citations

Editors

2

Chaminda Jayampath Seneviratne

National Dental Centre of Singapore

Edvaldo Antonio Ribeiro Rosa

Pontifical Catholic University of Parana

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Fungal infections such as candidiasis can range from superficial mucous membrane infection to life-threatening systemic mycoses. Candida infections are a significant clinical problem globally due to rapid rise in compromised host populations including HIV/AIDS, organ transplant recipients and patients on chemotherapy. In addition, sharp increase in aging populations which are susceptible to fungal infections is expected in next few decades. Antifungal drugs are relatively difficult to develop compared to the antibacterial drugs owing to the eukaryotic nature of the cells. Therefore, only a handful of antifungal agents are currently available to treat the myriad of fungal infections. Moreover, rising antifungal resistance and host-related adverse reactions have limited the antifungal arsenal against fungal pathogens. In this research topic, we would to like to update the theoretical aspects pertaining to the antifungal drug discovery i.e. proposed novel mechanisms, new drug targets and pathways. In addition, we will explore the new antifungal drugs derived from natural and synthetic sources which are currently under development. Contributors are encouraged to bring new insight into the antifungal drug discovery. Finally we would like to arrive at a general consensus on the possible strategies to combat ever increasing ubiquitous fungal infection in this new century.

Fungal infections such as candidiasis can range from superficial mucous membrane infection to life-threatening systemic mycoses. Candida infections are a significant clinical problem globally due to rapid rise in compromised host populations including HIV/AIDS, organ transplant recipients and patients on chemotherapy. In addition, sharp increase in aging populations which are susceptible to fungal infections is expected in next few decades. Antifungal drugs are relatively difficult to develop compared to the antibacterial drugs owing to the eukaryotic nature of the cells. Therefore, only a handful of antifungal agents are currently available to treat the myriad of fungal infections. Moreover, rising antifungal resistance and host-related adverse reactions have limited the antifungal arsenal against fungal pathogens. In this research topic, we would to like to update the theoretical aspects pertaining to the antifungal drug discovery i.e. proposed novel mechanisms, new drug targets and pathways. In addition, we will explore the new antifungal drugs derived from natural and synthetic sources which are currently under development. Contributors are encouraged to bring new insight into the antifungal drug discovery. Finally we would like to arrive at a general consensus on the possible strategies to combat ever increasing ubiquitous fungal infection in this new century.

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Editors

Chaminda Jayampath Seneviratne

National Dental Centre of Singapore

Edvaldo Antonio Ribeiro Rosa

Pontifical Catholic University of Parana

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Frontiers in Microbiology

Antimicrobials, Resistance and Chemotherapy

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